Appointing a woman is no different to a man, insists welcoming Andy Murray

ANDY MURRAY is no stranger to the sound of advice coming from a woman.

It is why, as the the world of sport blinked hard yesterday at the announcement of Amelie Mauresmo as the coach to replace ironman Ivan Lendl, the Wimbledon champion would know exactly what to expect.

His mother Judy was a massive influence in guiding her promising infant from the back garden of their home in Dunblane to Wimbledon champion and continues to be there with words of advice on life and tennis when required.

It was not the LTA who sculpted this champion, it was Mrs Murray who worked tirelessly, using her skill as a player and as a coach, who decided the best thing was to allow him to head for a Spanish academy when a teenager.

He has had the same girlfriend, Kim Sears, for eight years. He trusts women.

"To be honest, for me, I obviously worked with my mum for a long time and then even periods when I was 16, 17 years old," said Murray. "For me it doesn't feel like a very different thing.

"Obviously I wasn't paying my Mum so it'll be a little bit different this time around because I'll be employing Amelie.

"It's exciting, something a bit new for me, something a bit fresh and hopefully it works well..

"I spoke to her a few times on the phone and when I was in Paris I met her before the tournament. We chatted a little bit about it, whether she'd be up for doing it. There was a will from both sides to give it a go and see how it works out. We'll try during the grass-court season and hopefully we'll both enjoy it.

"She's obviously a fantastic player. She won Wimbledon, she was World No. 1, won the Australian Open.

"Just from speaking to her, she's very calm, she's a good person.

"I think we will communicate well together and I think that's a very important part of coaching. I hope it works well."

Amelie Mauresmo watched Murray during his French Open campaign [EPA]

All I'm interested in is to be able to help him in his goals. He wants to win more Grand Slam or Grand Slams, so I guess that's what it is

Amelie Mauresmo

Earlier in the tournament when Mauresmo had appeared in his guests' box which led to speculation why she was watching, Murray fiercely defended the very idea of a woman coach.

"I don't really care whether some of the other male players like it or not. That's not something that really bothers me," he said.

"There have been ex-players and stuff that have said, 'Oh, your mum shouldn't be around,' or she shouldn't come and support you or come to watch.

"Some men might not work well with a female. It's just whatever your preference is and whatever your needs are."

His needs are more of a fine tuning nature, mentally and technically, but for most her career, although she reached number one in the world, the highly gifted Mauresmo was known as a "choker" because she lost in so many quarter and semi-finals of Grand Slams.

"I think he's maybe looking for something different, about emotions and sensitive things," said Mauresmo who recognises how unique the appointment is to look after a Grand Slam winner currently ranked eight but only because of time off after his back operation.

"I know it's a major event in a way in the world of tennis in the world of sports, as well," says the Frenchwoman.

"It's a challenge, a professional goal for me. This is what I'm interested in. It's not an easy thing. It's not simple.

"I have to live up to this challenge. I'll dedicate all of my energy and focus on this, and then if we can manage to change the situation, that's a good thing.

"All I'm interested in is to be able to help him in his goals. He wants to win more Grand Slam or Grand Slams, so I guess that's what it is."

His other coaches have been Leon Smith, Mark Petchey, Miles Maclagan, Brad Gilbert and Lendl, although in his travelling group is friend and coach, Dani Vallverdu.

Murray is by far the most successful man to take on a woman coach but it is not unique.

Denis Istomin, of Uzbekistan, is coached by his mother, Mikhail Kukushkin married his coach, Anastasiia, tennis legend Jimmy Connors was guided by his mother while Billie Jean King briefly coached Tim Mayotte.

And Russia's Andrei Chesnokov, who reached number 9 in the world in 1991, was coached by Tatiana Naumko.